Bus companies should be legally required to consult passengers before routes are changed, a Conservative MP has said.

Watford MP Dean Russell put forward the proposal using a Ten Minute Rule motion in the Commons.

It comes after nearly a year’s worth of complaints from customers who have been impacted by Arriva’s 2022 bus timetable and route changes.

Watford Observer: Arriva bus in Watford High Street Arriva bus in Watford High Street (Image: Holly Cant)

He said: “My proposal is a very simple one: to implement a legal requirement or guidance for all companies, commercial or public, who provide a public bus service, to ensure users of the bus service are given an opportunity to feed into a consultation before services are changed or cancelled.”

Mr Russell insisted he is not proposing bus passengers “should somehow be able to stop the timetable from changing”, but said he wants to ensure “every effort is made to inform the impacted bus users”.

“I’m simply asking that the voice of passengers are heard in the process, and are properly considered as part of the decision-making process,” he said.

The Bill is listed for a second reading on November 24, but it is unlikely to make further progress without Government support due to a lack of parliamentary time to debate all Private Member’s Bills.